AI Penning 'Casablanca'? Hollywood Screenwriters Concerned over ChatGPT
ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, has Hollywood screenwriters on the picket lines over concerns that the machine could potentially be used to write or rewrite scripts. While the Writers Guild of America is currently fighting for better working conditions in an industry that's been rocked by the rise of streaming, AI is emerging as a major source of anxiety for writers.
Experts say that regenerative AI is already affecting every aspect of moviemaking, and screenplays can potentially be written using the style of known writers. However, the guild is seeking more safeguards in how AI can be applied to screenwriting, stating that the studios are stonewalling on the issue and that many are using AI to create mediocrity.
AI and the Future
According to the World Economic Forum, nearly a quarter of all jobs will be disrupted by AI over the next five years. AI has already been used to perform a wide range of tasks in the entertainment industry, from de-aging actors and removing swear words from scenes in post-production, to generating viewing recommendations on Netflix. Even the voices of deceased individuals, such as Anthony Bourdain and Andy Warhol, can be generated using AI.
Actors' unions are also closely following the evolving legal landscape around AI. The Screen Actors Guild has stated that human creators are the foundation of the creative industries, and that they must ensure that these human creators are respected and paid for their work.
Implications for Screenwriting
The implications for screenwriting, however, are just being explored. Screenwriters are already among the most exploited talents in Hollywood, and now they see a new, readily available, and inexpensive competitor in AI, albeit one with a slightly less tenuous grasp of the human condition.
While AI may have the potential to generate scripts, writers say that there needs to be a human writer in charge, and that they are not merely trying to revise what AI produces. The guild is currently negotiating on a newborn technology with the potential for a radical effect.
As the struggle between screenwriters and regenerative AI continues, it remains to be seen how it will reshape screenwriting. For now, the writers are using their picket lines to send messages to their digital foe.
